Scanning an object in three dimensions using color dashed line pattern

Abstract

The disclosure is related to a method and apparatus of scanning a target object in three dimensions (3D). The method may include projecting a color dashed line pattern onto a target object, scanning the target object with the color dashed line pattern projected thereto, and producing a 3D data of the target object by processing the scanning result. The color dashed line pattern may include multiple dashed line patterns each of which is individually used to calculate the 3D data of the target object.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of scanning a target object in three dimensions (3D), the method comprising:
 projecting a color dashed line pattern onto a target object;   scanning the target object with the color dashed line pattern projected thereto; and   producing a 3D data of the target object by processing the scanning result,   wherein the color dashed line pattern includes multiple dashed line patterns each of which is individually used to calculate the 3D data of the target object.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the color dashed line pattern includes the multiple dashed line patterns;   each one of the multiple dashed line patterns has a unique color different from the other;   each dashed line pattern is formed of a plurality of dashed lines;   each dashed line is formed of a plurality of dashes;   each dash is formed of a unit pixel; and   dashed lines included in each dashed line patterns are arranged to have a line gap greater than a dash gap, where the line gap is a gap between two adjacent dashed lines, and the dash gap is a gap between two adjacent dashes.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the forming comprises:
 i) generating a color dashed line pattern to include at least two dashed line pattern;   ii) generating each dashed line pattern to have a unique color different from the other; and   iii) generating dashed lines of each dashed line patterns to be arranged to have a line gap greater than a dash gap.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the forming comprises:
 i) generating the color dashed line pattern to include at least two first patterns and at least two second patterns;   ii) generating the at least two first patterns to be arranged in a first direction;   iii) generating the at least two second patterns to be arranged in a second direction crossing the first direction;   iv) generating the first patterns to have a first color;   v) generating the first patterns to have a plurality of first unit patterns each having a length of m pixels, wherein m is a positive integer greater than 0;   vi) generating the plurality of first unit patterns to be arranged with a third unit pattern having a length of n pixels as a gap between two adjacent first unit patterns, wherein the third unit pattern has a third color and a third length, and n is a positive integer number greater than 0 and smaller than m;   vi) generating the second patterns to have a second color;   vii) generating the second patterns to have a plurality of second unit patterns each having a length of m pixels, wherein m is a positive integer greater than 0; and   viii) generating the plurality of second unit patterns to be arranged with a fourth unit pattern having a length of n pixels as a gap between two adjacent second unit patterns, wherein the fourth unit pattern has a fourth color and a fourth length, and n is a positive integer number greater than 0 and smaller then m.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the scanning comprises:
 capturing at least one color dashed line pattern image of the target object; and   providing the captured color dashed line pattern image of the target object as the scanning result.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the producing a 3D data comprises:
 isolating the multiple dashed line patterns from the scanning results;   individually processing each of the isolated multiple dashed line patterns by performing sampling; and   generating a depth data of the target object based on the sampling results of the isolated multiple dashed line patterns.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to the projecting:
 generating a color dashed line pattern data upon generation of a predetermined event;   forming the color dashed line pattern including multiple dashed line patterns based on the generated color dashed line pattern;   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing the 3D data of the target object to a designated machine through a predetermined communication link.   
     
     
         9 . An apparatus of scanning a target object in three dimensions (3D), the apparatus comprising:
 a projection circuit configured to project a color dashed line pattern onto a target object;   an image capturing circuit configured to scan the target object with the color dashed line pattern projected thereon; and   a processor configured to produce a 3D data of the target object by processing the scanning result,   wherein the color dashed line pattern includes multiple dashed line patterns each of which is individually used to calculate the 3D data of the target object.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the color dashed line pattern includes the multiple dashed line patterns;   each one of the multiple dashed line patterns has a unique color different from the other;   each dashed line pattern is formed of a plurality of dashed lines;   each dashed line is formed of a plurality of dashes;   each dash is formed of a unit pixel; and   dashed lines included in each dashed line patterns are arranged to have a line gap greater than a dash gap, where the line gap is a gap between two adjacent dashed lines, and the dash gap is a gap between two adjacent dashes.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to generate the color dashed line pattern by:
 i) generating a color dashed line pattern to include at least two dashed line pattern;   ii) generating each dashed line pattern to have a unique color different from the other; and   iii) generating dashed lines of each dashed line patterns to be arranged to have a line gap greater than a dash gap.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein in the forming, the color dashed line pattern is generated by:
 i) generating the color dashed line pattern to include at least two first patterns and at least two second patterns;   ii) generating the at least two first patterns to be arranged in a first direction;   iii) generating the at least two second patterns to be arranged in a second direction crossing the first direction;   iv) generating the first patterns to have a first color;   v) generating the first patterns to have a plurality of first unit patterns each having a length of m pixels, wherein m is a positive integer greater than 0;   vi) generating the plurality of first unit patterns to be arranged with a third unit pattern having a length of n pixels as a gap between two adjacent first unit patterns, wherein the third unit pattern has a third color and a third length, and n is a positive integer number greater than 0 and smaller than m;   vi) generating the second patterns to have a second color;   vii) generating the second patterns to have a plurality of second unit patterns each having a length of m pixels, wherein m is a positive integer greater than 0; and   viii) generating the plurality of second unit patterns to be arranged with a fourth unit pattern having a length of n pixels as a gap between two adjacent second unit patterns, wherein the fourth unit pattern has a fourth color and a fourth length, and n is a positive integer number greater than 0 and smaller then m.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein in order to scan, the processor is configured to:
 capture at least one color dashed line pattern image of the target object; and   provide the captured color dashed line pattern image of the target object as the scanning result.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein in order to produce a 3D data, the processor is configured to:
 isolate the multiple dashed line patterns from the scanning results;   individually process each of the isolated multiple dashed line patterns by performing sampling; and   generate a depth data of the target object based on the sampling results of the isolated multiple dashed line patterns.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a communication circuit configured to provide the 3D data of the target object to a designated machine through a predetermined communication link.   
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium, having encoded thereon program code, wherein, when the program code is executed by a machine, the machine implements a method of scanning a target object in three dimensions (3D), the method comprising:
 projecting a color dashed line pattern onto a target object;   scanning the target object with the color dashed line pattern projected thereto; and   producing a 3D data of the target object by processing the scanning result,   wherein the color dashed line pattern includes multiple dashed line patterns each of which is individually used to calculate the 3D data of the target object.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the color dashed line pattern includes the multiple dashed line patterns;   each one of the multiple dashed line patterns has a unique color different from the other;   each dashed line pattern is formed of a plurality of dashed lines;   each dashed line is formed of a plurality of dashes;   each dash is formed of a unit pixel; and   dashed lines included in each dashed line patterns are arranged to have a line gap greater than a dash gap, where the line gap is a gap between two adjacent dashed lines, and the dash gap is a gap between two adjacent dashes.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the forming comprises:
 i) generating a color dashed line pattern to include at least two dashed line pattern;   ii) generating each dashed line pattern to have a unique color different from the other; and   iii) generating dashed lines of each dashed line patterns to be arranged to have a line gap greater than a dash gap.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the forming comprises:
 i) generating the color dashed line pattern to include at least two first patterns and at least two second patterns;   ii) generating the at least two first patterns to be arranged in a first direction;   iii) generating the at least two second patterns to be arranged in a second direction crossing the first direction;   iv) generating the first patterns to have a first color;   v) generating the first patterns to have a plurality of first unit patterns each having a length of m pixels, wherein m is a positive integer greater than 0;   vi) generating the plurality of first unit patterns to be arranged with a third unit pattern having a length of n pixels as a gap between two adjacent first unit patterns, wherein the third unit pattern has a third color and a third length, and n is a positive integer number greater than 0 and smaller than m;   vi) generating the second patterns to have a second color;   vii) generating the second patterns to have a plurality of second unit patterns each having a length of m pixels, wherein m is a positive integer greater than 0; and   viii) generating the plurality of second unit patterns to be arranged with a fourth unit pattern having a length of n pixels as a gap between two adjacent second unit patterns, wherein the fourth unit pattern has a fourth color and a fourth length, and n is a positive integer number greater than 0 and smaller then m.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the scanning comprises:
 capturing at least one color dashed line pattern image of the target object;   isolating the multiple dashed line patterns from the captured at least one color dashed line pattern image;   individually processing each of the isolated multiple dashed line patterns by performing sampling; and   generating a depth data of the target object based on the sampling results of the isolated multiple dashed line patterns.